With Hofstra Day of Giving approaching, today we feature two generous donors to our athletics program.
 
Craig Dempster helped lay the foundation for the success of the Hofstra men's soccer program, which in turn helped him build a foundation for his business success. Craig and his wife, Erin, recently made a leadership gift to support the continued growth of the Pride men and women's soccer programs at Hofstra University. It is one of two recent leadership gifts to the programs.
 
Craig, a 1994 graduate of Hofstra and a member of the men's soccer program, has spent the past 25 years in marketing services, technology, and advertising. In 2006, Craig joined Merkle, which has grown into a global business with 14,000 employees, 50+ offices worldwide, and over $2 billion in annual revenues. During his tenure at Merkle, Craig held numerous executive-level roles, eventually becoming Global CEO. He retired from Merkle in January 2022. Erin is also a Hofstra alumnus, graduating with a degree in speech pathology in 1994.
 
"I was fortunate to play soccer at Hofstra under Head Coach Richard Nuttall and with current Women's Soccer Head Coach Simon Riddiough," said Craig. "In fact, Simon and I were co-captains of the team during our senior year. My relationships with both have kept Erin and me close to the programs and we have been inspired by what they have been able to accomplish. We want to see both programs flourish under their direction and that is the driving force behind our support of each team."
 
The Dempsters hope their gift will spur others to support Hofstra soccer. "Our hope is that we can provide Hofstra soccer student-athletes and coaches with a facility that matches the excellence of the programs," the couple said. "A facility and program that current and future student-athletes are attracted to and proud of."
 
While facility improvements are one reason behind their gift, they have even bigger aspirations for Hofstra soccer. "We have already established ourselves as a premier program in the Northeast and our successes have afforded us some national exposure," said Craig. "We want to build on our established momentum, and have Hofstra be a nationally recognized soccer powerhouse, where the best talent globally wants to come and showcase their skills."
 
The Dempsters were also impressed by the leadership of Hofstra President Susan Poser and Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr.
 
"Erin and I are proud to be a part of the Hofstra community," said Craig. "Culture creates competitive advantages and leadership comes from the top. Both Susan and Rick have already had a huge impact on the culture of the University and our Athletic Department. Under their leadership our future is very bright."

Both soccer teams continued their participation in the NCAA Tournament by virtue of their conference championships this past November. It was the second consecutive CAA title for each program.

"The commitment and leadership of alumni like Craig and Erin Dempster represent the very best of Hofstra and Hofstra Athletics," said President Poser. "Their generosity will help us sustain the success of these programs for years to come."

Craig shared that his experience at Hofstra was a key factor in his professional success. "Playing soccer at Hofstra University provided me with skills that I use every day in the business world," he explained. "Teamwork, leadership, work ethic, relationship building, and the desire to compete and win are keys to success for athletic teams and companies."
 
The soccer programs have been a model of stability. Nuttall has been head coach at Hofstra for 34 seasons and has won 322 games, while Riddiough has completed 17 seasons as head coach and has 215 victories.
 
"We could not be more proud of the success of both of our coaches," said Craig. "There is a lot to be said for consistency of leadership. With their talent and long-term commitment, we have thrived."